Swing bridge installed for Inverness Western Link

Steelwork contractor Cleveland Bridge has completed the installation of a new swing bridge in Inverness.

The 39m-long road and pedestrian Torvean Bridge is the second swing bridge to cross the Caledonian Canal and is designed encourage free flow of traffic on the A82.  

This will be achieved with the new structure working in tandem with the existing Tomnahurich swing bridge. Vehicles will be diverted to use one of the pair of bridges while the other is open to allow boats to pass through, preventing congestion on road or water.

Steve Scott, Project Manager for main contractor RJ McLeod said: “A collaborative working relationship was established at the outset with all parties and designer Capita Symonds, which has been beneficial throughout the delivery of this project.”

The 150t steel bridge was fabricated and painted at the Cleveland Bridge factory in Darlington, County Durham before being transported to the Highlands.  

After arriving at the site, adjacent to the canal, the bridge components, including 90t counterweight blocks, were assembled and subsequently installed utilising a 500t-capacity mobile crane.

The swing bridge forms a key component of Stage 2 of the Highland Council’s Western Link bypass, which will deliver a significant upgrade to the A82 road between Fort William and Inverness.